It worked once, so we'll do it again

Saipan Tribune, Monday, January 29, 2007

Recycling 'Trick or Treat' a success
By Marconi Calindas
Reporter

Kagman residents were surprised when a number of high schools students knocked on their doors and screamed, “Trick or Treat!” in late January, but the trick or treat was intended for the Kagman residents' garbage.

Beautify CNMI!, together with some local high school volunteers, scoured the area Saturday for the recycling activity.

At least 58 school children helped in the event. Among them were 25 Kagman High School students and some volunteers from private schools such as Grace Christian Academy and public schools like Marianas High School. Some elementary schools also joined the environmental campaign group in collecting trash in Kagman.

Rep. Absalon Waki also participated in collecting trash from Kagman homes.

Mariana Islands Nature Alliance executive director and Beautify CNMI! Restoration Committee chairman Angelo Villagomez said the event was an overwhelming success.

“I didn't expect it, but I want to thank the Kagman residents for giving their trash, the high school students that took their afternoon for the activity,” he said.

The event hauled in a total of 330 lbs of trash from the Kagman homes, he added.

Beautify CNMI! volunteer Nina Rivera and Barrett Ristroph joined Villagomez in the event.

Rivera earlier said the event had a theme similar to Halloween. She said the environmental campaign group, together with the high school students, would be hopping from one house to another, knocking on doors, shouting “Trick or Treat” to collect trash from the Kagman residents.

She said Kagman High School student volunteers teamed up with Beautify CNMI! to turn recycling into a wacky yet productive event.

Villagomez said the residents of Kagman handed over aluminum cans, paper, cardboard, and plastic bottles to the students and other volunteers.

KHS senior Nadia Benjamin said the event was very impressive. “It was very successful and we had fun!” she said, adding though that some Kagman residents were not informed about the activity-the reason why some of the students had to wait minutes before the resident could put their trash together.

The volunteers started visiting Kagman homes as early as 1pm to collect trash.

Beautify CNMI! said if the event had been a success, volunteers would soon be "trick-or-treating" in other villages. “Please start saving recyclables and treat these volunteers to your finest trash.”